True or false? Root canal therapy is one of the most painful experiences a patient may have to undergo. False! Studies of pain experienced by patients during their root canal procedure show that at least 54% of them felt no pain. Of the remaining subjects, 34% experienced slight pain, 9% moderate pain, and 3% intense pain. There were no cases that involved unbearable discomfort. In fact, the cases in which patients experienced intense pain reported that their teeth were inflamed and extremely painful before the procedure. This is why it’s extremely important to visit your dentist in Naples at Galleria Dentistry regularly. If there are any signs of infection, our dentists will be able to inform you and set you on the course for treatment and recovery before tooth pain becomes inevitable.
When is a root canal necessary?
Not giving your teeth enough care at home or attention can leave your teeth susceptible to infection. If your tooth has suffered trauma leaving the inside of it exposed, you have also left your smile vulnerable and weak. For instance, imagine your child injured themselves in a sports related injury and cracked their tooth, but you never called our office for emergency dental or restorative services. The food they’ve been eating, plaque, and other dangerous debris could be building up inside their tooth. There are telltale signs of tooth infections, and unfortunately, most of these are painful. You will be able to feel or see symptoms like these if you or a family member have an infected tooth:
- An abscess—Essentially a hole in the jaw bone that shows up as a dark spot during dental x-rays because the bone does not grow in that area. Healthy jaw bones won’t grow in an area contaminated with infection.
- A fistula (bump) on gums—Typically a white, yellow, or lump that appears on your gum line. You can tell that this comes from harmful debris because your body is trying to rid the infection by venting it out with bodily fluids such as blood or puss.
- Positional pain—Tooth pain that occurs when you lie down or suddenly stand up. This can be a sign of an abscess or dead tooth.
- Referred pain—Pain that not only occurs in your tooth but another part of your body. Additional pain can occur in your jaw, ear, neck, or surrounding teeth.
- Spontaneous pain—Tooth pain that occurs from a stimulus, like a hot or cold drink. Sometimes this can also be caused by extremely sweet foods or drinks as well.
How do root canals work?
If your dentist recommends that you have a root canal in Naples, you might be concerned about the procedure. Research proves that the process isn’t the source of pain—the pain develops from avoiding the appropriate dental care.
Usually, the procedure is completed in one or two appointments, depending on the condition of your tooth and your personal circumstances. You can expect a comfortable experience during and after your appointment.
During your procedure, either dentist from our advanced practice will:
- Remove the inflamed root of your tooth.
- Access the inside of the tooth with tiny files that can gently reach the intricate crevices of the inside of your tooth.
- All signs of infection will be cleaned and rinsed out.
- Fill the inside of your tooth with a rubber-like dental material to avoid future infections from taking place.
- Your dentist will then seal your tooth and cap it with a dental crown to protect and re-stabilize it, gaining your natural tooth’s functionality and strength once again.
The procedure is virtually painless and our dentists can use a local anesthetic to make patients feel more comfortable. Naturally, the tooth may feel slightly sensitive, but this can be treated with over the counter pain medications. There is no lengthy recovery process and most patients return to their daily routines the very following day!
Contact Our Office
Galleria Dentistry is here relieve your tooth pain, not create it. We can improve your smile’s functionality and reduce sensitivity all within one simple root canal. Still have lingering questions? Click here to make an appointment at our Naples office!